HR0838

LRB093 21768 RAS 49609 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Agriculture and agriculture-related industries 
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account for one-fourth of the total economy of the State; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Soybean production in the State is ranked number 1 
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in the nation and corn production in the State is ranked number 
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2 in the nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The promotion of continued and expanded use of 
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Illinois grown corn and soybean based products is in the best 
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interest of Illinois' rural economy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois based livestock producers are major 
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purchasers of corn and soybean based products and by-products; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois based livestock industry has 
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experienced severely diminishing numbers of local producers 
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and operations of nearly 25% for beef and dairy cattle and 50% 
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for pork in just the last decade; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has determined that 
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continued reductions of value-added State based products and 
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the ultimate loss of these consumer goods is detrimental and 
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contrary to its efforts to improve the economic viability of 
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rural Illinois; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce 
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and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural Resources, 
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and the Environmental Protection Agency to form a working group 
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with the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Grower's 
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Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the Illinois 
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Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association 
 


 






HR0838
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LRB093 21768 RAS 49609 r




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to study cause and effect issues surrounding these reductions 
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in the number of local producers and local operations and the 
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continued reductions and ultimate loss of value-added State 
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based products; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That this working group be under the coordination 
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of the Director of Agriculture who shall report findings, along 
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with legislative recommendations, to the Governor, the 
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President of the Illinois Senate, and the Speaker of the 
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Illinois House of Representatives on or before December 31, 
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2004; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to  
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the Directors of the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
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of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural 
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Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
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heads of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Grower's 
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Association, the Illinois Soybean Association, the Illinois 
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Pork Producers Association, and the Illinois Beef Association.